Process for arranging cut flowers and floral arrangement apparatus

ABSTRACT

A process for arranging flowers ( 22 ) is disclosed and comprises the step of providing apparatus ( 20 ) including a holder ( 28 ). The holder ( 28 ) includes a clamp ( 32 ) for each flower ( 22 ) and associated therewith in use, each clamp ( 32 ) being adapted to permit its associated flower ( 22 ) to be positioned at a display position relative thereto, and to grip around said flower ( 22 ) at a location proximate the junction of its blossom portion ( 24 ) and stem portion ( 26 ) when said flower ( 22 ) is so positioned. The apparatus ( 20 ) also includes a body ( 30 ) connecting the clamps ( 32 ) to one another such that, with each flower ( 22 ) disposed at its display position, the blossoms ( 24 ) screen said holder ( 28 ) in it least top plan view, the holder ( 28 ) being sufficiently light-weight such that it is supported with respect to the flowers ( 22 ) by the clamps ( 32 ) in use. The process further comprises the step of positioning each flower ( 22 ) at its display position relative to the clamp ( 32 ) with which it is associated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of floral arrangements, andspecifically, to a process for arranging cut flowers, and a floralarrangement apparatus adapted for use in such process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cut flowers are widely utilized for decoration, and it is commonplacefor floral designers to arrange a bouquet of cut flowers and greenery,in a pleasing juxtaposition of colour, size, shape and flower type, withgreat care being taken to place each cut flower and piece of greeneryinto a position that maximizes beauty as part of the overall display.Such arrangements are often created in florist shops, and sold withvases therefor. Alternatively, the designer-may travel to the localewhere the arrangement is needed, and create it onsite, in a vase orcontainer of the customer.

To help prevent arrangements from shifting, a variety of processes forretaining cut flowers and greenery have been developed.

One widely utilized process employs open cell foams, which are packedwithin vases, and into and through which the stems of cut flowers andgreenery can be forced and thereby secured.

It is also known to fit rigid grid structures within or onto vases,which define regular openings into which stems of cut flowers andgreenery may be seated.

As yet another process, it is known to apply strips of floral tape tothe open top of a vase, to form a grid or series of compartments, intowhich cut flowers and greenery may be seated.

The foregoing methods are known to be able to ameliorate the problem ofshifting container-mounted floral arrangements, and indeed, quite ablyso in the context of fulsome arrangements, wherein the abundance offlora is sufficient to conceal the tape, grid or foam, and wherein theflora is sufficiently tightly-packed to be self-supporting, even in thecontext of specimens whose height significantly exceeds that of thecontainer therefor.

However, in more minimalist arrangements, the methods of the prior artcan suffer.

For example, in relatively spare arrangements, the flowers can be spacedapart sufficiently to permit the unsightly tape, grid or foam to bevisible to admirers of the arrangement.

Further, in relatively spare arrangements, wherein the height of thearrangement significantly exceeds that of the container, the flowers areprone to movement relative to one another, by virtue of their greatunsupported length.

Additionally, grids and foams can suffer from poor aesthetics when usedin association with transparent containers, as can tape, in arrangementswherein the open top of the container is not obscured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a process forretaining a floral arrangement that is suitable for use in associationwith containers including transparent vessels; that is adapted for usein arrangements wherein the height of the cut flowers significantlyexceeds that of the container therefor; and that does not require anabundance of flowers for utility.

This object, amongst others, is obtained by the present invention, aprocess for arranging a plurality of cut flowers, each having a blossomportion and a stem portion extending from the blossom portion, and afloral arrangement apparatus for use with said plurality of cut flowersin said process.

The process comprises the step of providing said floral arrangementapparatus which, in use, as described fully below, provides a floralarrangement which: may be placed in a vase or container for display; maybe used in the manner of a bouquet; and may be readily transported,without a vase, thereby to facilitate the retail sale of containerlessfloral arrangements.

The floral arrangement apparatus comprises a flower holder.

The flower holder includes a body member and a plurality of clamp meansassociated, in use, one with each of said flowers.

Each clamp means is adapted to permit its associated flower to bepositioned at a display position relative thereto, and to grip aroundsaid flower at a location thereon proximate the junction of its blossomportion and stem portion when said flower is disposed at its displayposition.

The body member is connected to said clamp means to position same inspaced-apart, substantially-fixed relation to one another such that, inuse, with each flower disposed at its display position, the blossomportions of said flowers substantially screen said flower holder in atleast top plan view.

The flower holder is sufficiently light-weight such that, with eachflower disposed at its display position in use, the mass of the flowerholder is supported with respect to the flowers by the clamp means.

The process further comprises the step of positioning each of saidflowers at its display position relative to the clamp means with whichit is associated in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, the flower holder ispreferably sufficiently light-weight such that, with each flowerdisposed at its display position in use, the flower holder and theblossom portions are supported by the stem portions without substantialbending of the stem portions.

According to another aspect of the invention, each clamp meanspreferably comprises a close-fitting ring having an outer dimension atleast as large as the stem portion of the flower with which said eachclamp means is associated in use, and an inner dimension smaller thanthe girth of said flower at the location whereat it is gripped in use.

The ring is deformable, to permit the stem portion of said flower to beinserted therethrough and to permit the flower to be drawn to itsdisplay position, whereat the ring encircles the flower at the locationwhereat it is gripped in use, and is also resilient, so as tofrictionally grip about said flower at said location in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, each ring is preferablysegmented into a plurality of tabs, formed integrally with the bodymember.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tabs and the bodymember are preferably constructed from cardboard.

According to another aspect of the invention, in use, each clamp meanspreferably grips around the stem portion of the flower with which it isassociated, proximate the junction of the blossom portion and stemportion of said flower.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the flower holder ispreferably substantially planar.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention,as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements ofthe structure, and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description and the appended claims with reference tothe accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly describedhereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which are for the purpose of illustrationand description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limitsof the invention:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a floral arrangement formed according to apreferred embodiment of the process of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the floral arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a floral arrangement apparatus adapted foruse in the process according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a floral arrangement apparatus provided ina first alternate embodiment of the process of the present invention;and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a floral arrangement apparatus provided ina second alternate embodiment of the process of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With general reference to. FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, a process according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafterdescribed.

The inventive process is for arranging a plurality of cut flowers 22,each having a blossom portion 24 and a stem portion 26 extending fromthe blossom portion 24. For greater certainty, the flowers 22 do notform part of the invention.

As an initial step in said process, a floral arrangement apparatus foruse with said plurality of cut flowers is provided. A floral arrangementapparatus adapted for use in the preferred embodiment of the process isshown in FIG. 3 and designated with general reference numeral 20.

Said apparatus 20 will be seen to comprise a substantially planar flowerholder 28 shaped in the manner of a notched disc and including a bodymember 30 and a plurality of clamp means 32 associated, in use, one witheach of said flowers 22. Each clamp means 32 is preferably adapted topermit its associated cut flower 22 to be positioned at a displayposition relative thereto, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and to griparound the stem portion 26 of said cut flower 22, proximate the junctionof its blossom portion 24 and stem portion 26, when said flower 22 isdisposed at its display position. As seen in FIG. 3, each clamp means 32preferably comprises a close-fitting cardboard ring 34 segmented into aplurality of tabs 36, namely, eight tabs 36, and has an outer dimensionat least as large as the stem portion 26 of the flower 22 with whichsaid each clamp means 32 is associated in use, and an inner dimensionsmaller than the girth of said flower 22 at the location whereat it isgripped in use.

The ring 34 is deformable, so as to permit the stem portion 26 of saidflower 22 to be inserted therethrough and to permit the flower 22 to bedrawn to its display position, whereat the ring 34 encircles the flower22 at the location whereat it is gripped in use. The ring 34 is alsoresilient, so as to frictionally grip about said flower 22 at saidlocation in use.

The body member 30 is preferably formed of cardboard, formed integrallywith tabs 36, and thereby connected to the clamp means 32 to positionsame in spaced-apart, substantially fixed relation to one another suchthat, with each flower 22 disposed at its display position, the blossomportions 24 of said flowers 22 substantially screen said flower holder28 in at least top plan view, as is well indicated by FIG. 1, whereinthe outline of the flower holder 28 is shown in phantom outline.

The flower holder 28 is sufficiently light-weight such that, with eachflower 22 disposed at its display position in use, the mass of theflower holder 28 is supported with respect to flowers 22 by the clampmeans 32, and the flower holder 28 and the blossom portions 24 aresupported by the stem portions 26 without substantial bending of thestem portions 26.

With the flower arrangement apparatus 20 so provided, each flower 22need merely be positioned at its display position relative to therespective clamp means 32 with which it is associated in use, aspreviously shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, to complete the inventiveprocess.

The arrangement may be utilized in a variety of ways.

For example, the arrangement may be placed in a vase, and, as desired,surrounded by cut greenery, or other cut flowers, to conceal the flowerarrangement apparatus 20 from viewpoints other than the top plan view ofthe flowers of the arrangement.

Alternatively, the flowers of the arrangement may be secured to oneanother, by an elastic band 38 or the like, as shown in FIG. 2, and usedin the manner of a bouquet. Greenery may optionally be provided in thisalternative, to surround the bouquet, as may be a sleeve of paper orsimilar material.

As another alternative which has proven unexpectedly advantageous, theflowers of the arrangement may be surrounded by greenery as desired, andpackaged for transport, for example, using an elastic band, a paper coneor a combination thereof. This facilitates retail sales of containerlessfloral arrangements, such that consumers can obtain the look of acustom-designed floral arrangement without incurring the cost of acontainer, or the travel costs of a designer.

Various modifications to the process may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, whereas the flower holder of the preferred embodiment isconstructed from cardboard, other materials, such as plastics materials,could be readily utilized.

As well, whereas the clamp means of the preferred embodiment comprisesegmented rings, the rings could equally be formed in unitary fashion,out of deformable synthetic material or the like.

Additionally, it will also be evident that the flower holder can beprovided in various shapes and sizes, and the size and spacing of theclamp means modified, to receive flowers of different shapes and sizes.For example, FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of a floral arrangementapparatus provided in a first alternate embodiment of the process of thepresent invention, wherein the body member 28′ provided is disc-shapedand has 22 clamps, but is otherwise structurally identical to that ofthe preferred embodiment; in contrast, FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of afloral arrangement apparatus according to a second alternate embodimentof the process of the present invention, wherein the body member 28″ isgenerally triangular and has 3 clamps, but is otherwise structurallyidentical to that of the preferred embodiment.

As well, whereas the clamp means of the flower holder shown grip aroundthe stem portions of the flowers, proximate the junction of blossomportion and stem portion, the clamp means could equally be adapted togrip around the base of the blossom portions.

Further, whereas the flower holder of the preferred embodiment issubstantially planar, it could readily be contoured, for example, in themanner of a dome, such that in use, the blossom portions of said flowerssubstantially screen said flower holder in, for example, sideelevational view.

Yet further, whereas the clamp means of the preferred embodiment aresubstantially identical, the clamp means can be provided in differentsizes, if desired, to receive flowers of different sizes.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the scope of the presentinvention is limited only by the accompanying claims, purposivelyconstrued.

1. A floral arrangement apparatus for use with a plurality of cutflowers, each having a blossom portion and a stem portion extending fromthe blossom portion, said apparatus comprising: a flower holderincluding a plurality of clamp means associated, in use, one with eachof said flowers, each being adapted to permit its associated flower tobe positioned at a display position relative thereto, and being adaptedto grip around said flower at a location thereon proximate the junctionof its blossom portion and stem portion when said flower is disposed atits display position; a body member connected to said clamp means toposition same in spaced-apart, substantially fixed relation to oneanother such that, in use, with each flower disposed at its displayposition, the blossom portions of said flowers substantially screen saidflower holder in at least top plan view, wherein the flower holder issufficiently light-weight such that, with each flower disposed at itsdisplay position in use, the mass of the flower holder is supported withrespect to the flowers by the clamp means.
 2. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the flower holder is sufficiently light-weight suchthat, with each flower disposed at its display position in use, theflower holder and the blossom portions are supported by the stemportions without substantial bending of the stem portions.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein each clamp means comprises a close-fittingring having an outer dimension at least as large as the stem portion ofthe flower with which said each clamp means is associated in use, and aninner dimension smaller than the girth of said flower at the locationwhereat it is gripped in use, said ring: being deformable, to permit thestem portion of said flower to be inserted therethrough and to permitthe flower to be drawn to its display position, whereat the ringencircles the flower at the location whereat it is gripped in use; andbeing resilient, so as to frictionally grip about said flower at saidlocation in use.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each ring issegmented into a plurality of tabs, formed integrally with the bodymember.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each ring issegmented into eight tabs.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4, whereinthe tabs and the body member are constructed from cardboard. 7.Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in use, each clamp means gripsaround the stem portion of the flower with which it is associated,proximate the junction of the blossom portion and stem portion of saidflower.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all the clamp meansare identical.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flowerholder is substantially planar.
 10. A process for arranging a pluralityof cut flowers, each having a blossom portion and a stem portionextending from the blossom portion, said process comprising the stepsof: (a) providing a floral arrangement apparatus for use with saidplurality of cut flowers, said apparatus comprising a flower holderincluding: a plurality of clamp means associated, in use, one with eachof said flowers, each being adapted to permit its associated flower tobe positioned at a display position relative thereto, and being adaptedto grip around said flower at a location thereon proximate the junctionof its blossom portion and stem portion when said flower is disposed atits display position; a body member connected to said clamp means toposition same in spaced-apart, substantially fixed relation to oneanother such that, in use, with each flower disposed at its displayposition, the blossom portions of said flowers substantially screen saidflower holder in at least top plan view, wherein the flower holder issufficiently light-weight such that, with each flower disposed at itsdisplay position in use, the mass of the flower holder is supported withrespect to the flowers by the clamp means; and (b) positioning each ofsaid flowers at its display position relative to the clamp means withwhich it is associated in use.
 11. A process according to claim 10,wherein the flower holder is sufficiently light-weight such that, witheach flower disposed at its display position in use, the flower holderand the blossom portions are supported by the stem portions withoutsubstantial bending of the stem portions.
 12. A process according toclaim 11, wherein each clamp means comprises a close-fitting ring havingan outer dimension at least as large as the stem portion of the flowerwith which said each clamp means is associated in use, and an innerdimension smaller than the girth of said flower at the location whereatit is gripped in use, said ring: being deformable, to permit the stemportion of said flower to be inserted therethrough and to permit theflower to be drawn to its display position, whereat the ring encirclesthe flower at the location whereat it is gripped in use; and beingresilient, so as to frictionally grip about said flower at said locationin use.
 13. A process according to claim 12, wherein each ring issegmented into a plurality of tabs, formed integrally with the bodymember.
 14. A process according to claim 13, wherein each ring issegmented into eight tabs.
 15. A process according to claim 13, whereinthe tabs and the body member are constructed from cardboard.
 16. Aprocess according to claim 15, wherein, in use, each clamp means gripsaround the stem portion of the flower with which it is associated,proximate the junction of the blossom portion and stem portion of saidflower.
 17. A process according to claim 10, wherein all the clamp meansare identical.
 18. A process according to claim 10, wherein the flowerholder is substantially planar.